ART Dentistry Dental Implants 101: A Quick Guide | Page 4

You can also choose to get a sinus lift. This is also known as sinus elevation or augmentation.
This procedure involves adding bone under the sinuses when the natural bone has been
deteriorated because of missing teeth in the upper rear of the mouth.
After evaluating your mouth, the surgeon may even recommend ridge expansion. If you want to
get dental implants but your jaw isn’t wide enough, bone graft material can be added to a tiny
space or ridge. This is created at the top of the jaw.
Dental Implants and Oral Hygiene
In order for the dental implants to be successful, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene
before, during and after the procedure. This helps to keep the implants and gums healthy. If
you’re not sure how to maintain the implants, talk to your dentist about how you can care for
the implants at home in between appointments.
For instance, you may have questions about how to brush and floss your teeth, or what to do if
food gets in between your teeth. These are just some of the reasons that the hygienist will give
you a customized care routine to follow.
One of the first things you should do is observe your teeth and gums. Your oral tissue should be
firm, pink and keratinized. If you see any signs of infection, contact your dentist to set up an
appointment right away. The peri-implant soft tissues that separates the tissue around the
implant from the outer environment should be keratinized. If you see a lack of keratin, your
mouth will be more prone to bacteria, which means you can get peri-implant disease. The
health of your mouth and the implants depends on the health of the gums and tissues.
It’s important to start taking care of your dental implants right away. It’s best to start cleaning
your gums and the implant space before getting the implants if you can. You have to get rid of
plaque and biofilm in your mouth daily for best results.
More than likely, the hygienist will assign you a simple home care routine that you should
follow between dental appointments. Be sure to keep all your appointments and follow the
directions for your home care. It’s best to avoid stannous and sodium fluoride. You should also
stay away from teeth stain removers and baking soda, since these ingredients are too abrasive
on the implants. If you’re a smoker and previously used smoker’s toothpaste, once you get the
implants, it’s best not to use this toothpaste, since it’s too harsh on the implant surface.
Brushing Your Teeth With Dental Implants
Companies and researchers are currently looking at low-abrasive toothpastes and cleaners that
are safe for implants and effective for cleaning. One particular brand that possibly has
toothpastes that are safe to use is Colgate. A study was done involving 59 participants who
used Colgate Total for a three to six month period. It was concluded that this toothpaste has to
get rid of the plaque that can lead to gum disease.